PLANS for a fish farm on Gigha have been recommended for approval by council officers – despite the objections of an MSP and a councillor.

The proposal by Bakkafrost Scotland Ltd on the west of the island will be considered by councillors at a meeting next week.

But a total of 33 parties have expressed objection to the proposals, including Ariane Burgess MSP (Scottish Greens, Highlands and Islands) and Councillor Dougie McFadzean (SNP, Kintyre and the Islands).

An Argyll and Bute Council planning officer recommended the plans for approval on the grounds that it was consistent with the local development plan. It is, however, recommended that a public hearing is considered.

The application will be considered by the council’s planning, protective services and licensing committee on Wednesday, September 18. Councillor McFadzean does not sit on the committee.

Ms Burgess said: “[The] main reason for objecting is the appalling track record of the operator, Bakkafrost, in the same region.

“The company has two other salmon farms close to Gigha. Both recently completed yearly production cycles with over 80 per cent mortality.

“This means that over 80 per cent of the fish they were farming died prematurely and could not be sold as food for people.

“Yet the ‘production’ of those wasted salmon had detrimental impacts on the local and global environment and the local economy.

“Approving this application would surely conflict with Argyll and Bute Council’s local development plan policy on sustainable development.

“In order for this application to be approved Bakkafrost should have to prove that the design of this new farm, and/or the practices they follow at it, are substantially different for their other two farms around Gigha, where mass mortality events have resulted in enormous levels of waste.

“Approving this application would allow the company to expand operations close to its existing sites where it has recently struggled with sky high mortality rates including the worst mortality event in Scottish history in 2021.”

A planning officer responded: “This application has been assessed on its merits against the policies of the development plan.”

Councillor McFadzean said: “I have been contacted by Gigha Community Council who have provided me with the results of an island wide consultation they undertook in relation to this proposed fish farm development. The total number of respondents was 83 (32 for and 51 against).

“I have also spoken with the development team behind the fish farm and they did provide some very strong reassurances re environmental protection and sourcing staff locally, ideally from Gigha itself.

“However, I was elected to represent the thoughts and feelings of the communities I serve and the results from the community council survey are pretty compelling.

“I would further like noted my concerns regarding the infrastructure on Gigha that could support (or not be able to support) such a development and am thinking particularly about the lack of housing on Gigha, and across my ward, which is stifling growth and population retention.

“There will be a negative environmental impact if this development goes ahead, although I was assured these would be minimised using new technologies.”

A planning officer said: “The proposal is considered to be consistent with the relevant provisions of the development plan, and there are no other material considerations of sufficient significance to indicate that it would be appropriate to withhold planning permission.”

Bakkafrost Scotland has been contacted for comment.